France v Republic of Ireland: Reacting to what has developed into something approaching a national obsession here in France, Raymond Domenech looks set to gear his entire strategy for tomorrow evening's World Cup qualifier at the Stade de France towards getting the best out of one man:. Thierry Henry writes Emmet Malone in Paris.
The French coach produced no surprises last night when he named his starting XI but there is growing speculation that he will grant his forwards the same sort of freedom to roam Henry enjoys at Highbury, where swift passing and rapid movement contribute much to the 27-year-old's ability to tear open opposing defences.
His consistently strong performances in London have only added to the frustration caused by the Arsenal striker's lack of form at international level and the resulting debate over what might be done to remedy the situation has dominated the coverage of the home side's preparations for this game.
L'Equipe described his ability to effectively score four times as many goals for his club as for his country as "The Henry Mystery" across its front page yesterday.
The paper did not, over the pages that followed, quite solve the mystery but it certainly was not for the want of trying.
Publicly, however, Domenech has repeatedly insisted there is nothing to worry about.
"The problem with Thierry," he says "is that, basically, he is trying too hard. Against Israel he was there in all the good situations for us. When we had an attack, it was with Thierry.
"But people want more from Thierry, they want him to score all the time. In his mind it is as if he is saying: 'I am responsible for the game of the national team. I am responsible for scoring. I have to do it.' That makes a lot of pressure. He takes too much responsibility on himself."
Domenech says his main task is to relieve the striker, who has scored just twice in his last 10 international appearances, of that pressure but there is nevertheless a belief amongthose close to the coach that he may try to shift away from the 4-4-2 that often appears to stifle the gifted striker.
The suggestion seems to be that we will see a much more mobile French strikeforce against the Republic than was witnessed in the team's opening two games of the campaign last month.
Elsewhere in the side the only surprise is the inclusion of Manchester United's Mikael Silvestre at the expense of Monaco left-back Patrice Evra.
In the wake of poor displays by the 27-year-old at Euro 2004, Domenech hadn't previously even called Silvestre into one of his squads.
Evra's claim on the number three shirt seems to have been badly undermined last weekend, however, when Monaco suffered their second league defeat of the season after surrendering a 3-0 lead over Nice during a calamitous closing 20 minutes.
The 23-year-old seems to have shouldered much of the blame in the national coach's eyes although it is not quite clear how Sebastien Squillaci, whose form since the start of the season, both for Monaco and France, has been erratic, survived the cut.
Back in the team after a series of superb displays for Marseille in recent weeks is Fabien Barthez, while William Gallas, who it is intended will counter the threat posed by his Chelsea team-mate Damien Duff, will play at right back. Gael Givet partners Squillaci in the centre.
With the midfield options ravaged by injuries and suspension, Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires will play out wide while 20-year-old Rio Antonio Mavuba will partner Olivier Dacourt in the centre on what will be only his second senior international appearance.
It would appear a risky selection but for the lack of alternatives and the youngster has made a name for himself as an aggressive tackler and capable passer at his club, Bordeaux.
Apart from Henry, Djibril Cisse will be the side's other striker, the Liverpool player getting a chance to stake his claim at this level in the absence of Louis Saha and David Trezeguet.
The Irish squad, meanwhile, arrived in Paris just after lunchtime yesterday and were joined for training later in the afternoon by Shay Given, who had made his own way from Newcastle, where his wife is expecting a baby.
Kerr was in bullish humour about his side's prospects when interviewed on television before leaving Dublin, the coach remarking that his players were all "up for it" and that he is keen "for them to bring it on".
There were no reports of any injuries after last night's closed training session and it still appears that Kerr will have 23 players to choose from when he sits down to settle on his starting line-up today.
FRANCE: Barthez (capt), Gallas, Squillaci, Givet, Silvestre, Mavuba, Dacourt, Wiltord, Pires, Henry, Cisse.
